One of the best returning features from Black Ops 6 is the hidden free power-ups scattered across Zombies maps. In Ashes of the Damned, Treyarch has hidden eight power-ups throughout the sprawling map, and finding them can give you a serious edge during those clutch high-round survival moments or when you’re attempting the Main Easter Egg quest.
I’ve spent hours exploring every corner of this map, and let me tell you—these power-ups are cleverly hidden. Some are accessible from spawn, while others require you to venture into dangerous territories. The best part? You can either activate them immediately or save them for when you really need them using C4. Let’s break down exactly where to find each one.
Why Free Power-Ups Matter
Before we dive into locations, here’s why you should hunt these down:
- Early game advantage: Max Ammo in spawn saves you precious points
- Boss fight insurance: Save power-ups with C4 for critical moments
- High-round survival: That emergency Nuke or Max Armor can save a run
- Camo grinding: Insta Kill accelerates weapon camo unlocks
- Easter Egg runs: Pre-placed power-ups help during difficult quest steps
The C4 trick is especially valuable—toss one near a power-up without shooting it, then detonate remotely when you need that specific boost. It’s a game-changer for solo players pushing high rounds.
Complete Free Power-Up Location Guide
1. Max Ammo – Janus Towers Plaza (Spawn Room)
Location: Server Room, Janus Towers Plaza
Difficulty: Very Easy
This is hands-down the most valuable free power-up since you can grab it immediately. Head to the Server Room within Janus Towers Plaza—it’s part of your spawn area. Look up at the ceiling above the Quick Revive perk machine, and you’ll spot the Max Ammo sitting in a ceiling hole.
How to Collect:
- Option 1: Shoot it with your starting pistol to spawn it immediately
- Option 2: Toss C4 up there and save it for later rounds
Pro Tip: I usually save this one until round 10-15 when ammo starts becoming an issue, especially if I’m using the wall buy weapons efficiently in early rounds.
2. Insta Kill – Vandorn Farm
Location: Top of the silo, south side of Vandorn Farm
Difficulty: Easy
Vandorn Farm holds the Insta Kill power-up, perfectly positioned for mid-game collection when you’re opening up the map. Position yourself slightly right of the barn entrance and look south toward the silo behind it.
How to Collect:
- Look for the opening at the very top of the silo structure
- Use any ranged weapon to shoot the power-up
- It will spawn at your feet immediately
Pro Tip: This pairs perfectly with critical kills grinding since Insta Kill guarantees one-shot eliminations. Great for weapons that need headshots or specific elimination challenges.
3. Max Armor – Grounded Ship
Location: Inside shipping container on the Grounded Ship
Difficulty: Easy
The Grounded Ship between Vandorn Farm and Ashwood contains the Max Armor power-up. This is one of my favorites for saving with C4 during Easter Egg attempts.
How to Collect:
- Navigate to the Grounded Ship location
- Look for the shipping container on the far-right side (coming from Vandorn Farm)
- It’s positioned on the slope leading up to the ship
- Either shoot it immediately or plant C4 to save it
Pro Tip: Max Armor is clutch during boss encounters or when fighting Elite and Special Zombies. I always C4 this one and save it for the Zursa fights or the Main Quest final steps.
4. Nuke – Ashwood Church Steeple
Location: Church steeple, Ashwood
Difficulty: Medium
Ashwood’s Nuke is tucked away in one of the most iconic spots on the map—the church steeple. This requires a bit of navigation and good aim.
How to Collect:
- Enter Ashwood from Vandorn Farm or Blackwater Lake
- Take the ascender on the left side immediately upon entering
- Position yourself on the east side of Ashwood
- Look north toward the church
- Shoot the power-up visible in the steeple to spawn it
Pro Tip: Nukes are perfect emergency buttons when you’re overwhelmed. Since this one is at Ashwood, it’s useful when you’re working on the Pack-a-Punch machine in this area or attempting nearby Easter Egg steps.
5. Double Points – Lost Cabins
Location: Beyond Blackwater Lake, Lost Cabins in the fog
Difficulty: Medium-Hard
Double Points sits in one of the more remote locations—the Lost Cabins past Blackwater Lake. This requires venturing into the fog, so make sure you’re prepared for Zombee swarms and limited visibility.
How to Collect:
- Navigate through Blackwater Lake into the Lost Cabins area
- Go to the western cabin as you enter from the lake
- Climb the stairs to the upper level
- Look through the broken roof toward bearing 71 on your compass
- Use a ranged weapon to shoot the distant power-up
Pro Tip: Double Points is excellent for Essence farming. If you’re planning a high-round run or need to afford multiple perks and Pack-a-Punch, this can accelerate your economy significantly.
6. Full Power – Zarya Cosmodrome
Location: Flame Trench, northeastern corner of Zarya Cosmodrome
Difficulty: Hard
The Full Power power-up is one of the trickiest to collect due to fence obstacles. You’ll need precision and patience for this one.
How to Collect:
- Head to the Flame Trench in the northeastern section of Zarya Cosmodrome
- Look northeast through the chain-link fence
- Move slightly right to find a gap in the fence you can shoot through
- Carefully aim and shoot the power-up
- Alternative: Toss C4 through the gap and detonate later
Pro Tip: Full Power is underrated—it instantly recharges your Field Upgrade, which can be lifesaving during intense moments. Pair this with Energy Mine or Frenzied Guard for maximum impact.
7. Bonus Points – Exit 115
Location: Under the broken bridge, Exit 115
Difficulty: Medium
Exit 115 hides the Bonus Points power-up in plain sight—once you know where to look. This one’s actually pretty straightforward once you get the positioning right.
How to Collect:
- Go to Exit 115 and climb onto the diner roof
- Move to the top-left corner (back of the diner)
- Turn toward the broken bridge that overlooks the POI
- Look underneath the car on the right side of the bridge
- Shoot the Bonus Points power-up to spawn it
Pro Tip: Bonus Points gives you an instant 1,250 points, which is perfect for mid-game. Use it when you’re about to buy an expensive perk or weapon, or when you need salvage for upgrades.
8. Fire Sale – Blackwater Lake Cabin (Unlock Condition)
Location: Inside the cabin at Blackwater Lake
Difficulty: Special (requires all other power-ups first)
IMPORTANT: The Fire Sale only spawns after you’ve collected all seven previous power-ups. This is the grand finale of the hidden power-up Easter Egg.
How to Collect:
- Collect all seven power-ups listed above first
- Head to Blackwater Lake
- Enter the cabin structure
- Go upstairs to the second floor
- Look up through the open roof
- Shoot the Fire Sale power-up to activate it
Pro Tip: Fire Sale makes Mystery Box spins cost only 10 Essence and spawns all box locations simultaneously. This is perfect for weapon grinding or hunting for specific weapons needed for challenges. Save this for when you really need a Wonder Weapon or specific tool.
Advanced Power-Up Strategies
Now that you know where everything is, here are some expert-level strategies I’ve learned:
The C4 Save Method
For power-ups you can reach:
- Buy C4 from wall buys
- Toss it near the power-up without shooting it
- The power-up stays dormant until you detonate
- Detonate remotely during emergencies
Best C4 saves:
- Max Armor (boss fights, high rounds)
- Max Ammo (when running low during Easter Eggs)
- Nuke (when overwhelmed in training spots)
Optimal Collection Order
Based on map flow and Easter Egg progression:
- Rounds 1-5: Save Max Ammo in spawn with C4
- Rounds 5-10: Collect Insta Kill at Vandorn Farm for early weapon XP
- Rounds 10-15: Grab Max Armor and C4 save it
- Rounds 15-20: Collect Ashwood Nuke when opening that area
- Mid-game: Grab Double Points when you need Essence
- Late-game: Collect Full Power, Bonus Points, then trigger Fire Sale
Power-Ups for Specific Goals
Camo Grinding:
- Prioritize Insta Kill for headshot challenges
- Use Double Points to afford multiple Pack-a-Punch tiers
- Fire Sale helps get specific weapons for challenges
High Round Runs:
- Save Max Armor, Nuke, and Max Ammo with C4
- Position them near your best training spots
- Use Full Power to keep Field Upgrades rolling
Main Easter Egg:
- C4 save all power-ups along your quest path
- Keep Max Armor and Nuke for the final boss
- Use Fire Sale before boss fight to get optimal loadout
Common Mistakes to Avoid
After watching countless players miss these, here are the biggest mistakes:
❌ Shooting power-ups too early: Save them with C4 for when they’re actually needed
❌ Ignoring spawn Max Ammo: This is free ammo that can save you 5,000+ Essence over a match
❌ Not preparing for fog areas: Bring good weapons when collecting Lost Cabins power-up
❌ Wrong angles: Some power-ups require specific positioning—take your time
❌ Forgetting Fire Sale requirement: Don’t waste time looking for it before collecting the other seven
Integration With Other Easter Eggs
The free power-ups work perfectly alongside other Ashes of the Damned secrets:
- Combine with free perk Easter Eggs for ultimate economy
- Use during music Easter Egg collection for survivability
- Essential for Cursed Mode runs with Relics active
- Helpful when hunting Intel locations
Additional Resources
For more Ashes of the Damned content:
- Master the complete Main Easter Egg
- Learn all Easter Eggs and secrets
- Check out beginner tips if you’re new
- Optimize your weapon loadouts
For official updates and community discussion:
- Official Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 site
- Black Ops 7 Wikipedia
- COD Black Ops 7 Reddit
- COD Community Discord
These free power-ups are some of the most useful secrets in Ashes of the Damned. Whether you’re pushing for round 100, grinding Dark Ops challenges, or just trying to survive, knowing these locations gives you a massive advantage. The C4 save strategy alone has saved countless runs for me, especially during those intense boss encounters.
Now get out there and start collecting—just remember to grab that Fire Sale last!
